Consul General Murabayashi Joins “Good Luck Flag Repatriation Ceremony”
2023/7/31
On July 20, Consul General Murabayashi and his wife attended the Japanese 'Good Luck' Flag Repatriation Ceremony co-hosted by the USS Lexington Museum in Corpus Christi and OBON SOCIETY.
In April of this year, a grandson of a former Japanese soldier Mr. Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, who died in World War II, happened to discover the Good Luck flag (Yosegaki Hinomaru) with the signature of his grandfather, displayed at the museum through social media. The museum was contacted by OBON SOCIETY (a non-profit organization recognized by the State of Oregon), which works to repatriate Good Luck flags and other artifacts to the bereaved families of Japan. OBON SOCIETY has received approximately 2,400 restitution requests from U.S. veterans and their families and has assisted in the repatriation of approximately 500 cases.
At the repatriation ceremony, Steve Banta, the museum's Executive Director, said that when he was informed that OBON SOCIETY found the bereaved family of the Japanese soldier, he knew that they had to repatriate the Good Luck flag immediately. Consul General Murabayashi expressed that it was a great honor for him to be present at the ceremony, and on behalf of the Japanese people, he expressed his sincere gratitude for the continued support of OBON SOCIETY and to the museum for agreeing to repatriate the Good Luck flag, which is the only artifact left by Mr. Mutsuda. Rex Ziak, co-founder of OBON SOCIETY, then gave a brief history of the events leading up to the repatriation ceremony.
On July 29, a ceremony was held at Yasukuni Shrine in Japan for the bereaved family of Mr. Mutsuda. Mr. Banta, the Executive Directorof the museum, joined the ceremony in Japan, along with OBON SOCIETY.
In April of this year, a grandson of a former Japanese soldier Mr. Shigeyoshi Mutsuda, who died in World War II, happened to discover the Good Luck flag (Yosegaki Hinomaru) with the signature of his grandfather, displayed at the museum through social media. The museum was contacted by OBON SOCIETY (a non-profit organization recognized by the State of Oregon), which works to repatriate Good Luck flags and other artifacts to the bereaved families of Japan. OBON SOCIETY has received approximately 2,400 restitution requests from U.S. veterans and their families and has assisted in the repatriation of approximately 500 cases.
At the repatriation ceremony, Steve Banta, the museum's Executive Director, said that when he was informed that OBON SOCIETY found the bereaved family of the Japanese soldier, he knew that they had to repatriate the Good Luck flag immediately. Consul General Murabayashi expressed that it was a great honor for him to be present at the ceremony, and on behalf of the Japanese people, he expressed his sincere gratitude for the continued support of OBON SOCIETY and to the museum for agreeing to repatriate the Good Luck flag, which is the only artifact left by Mr. Mutsuda. Rex Ziak, co-founder of OBON SOCIETY, then gave a brief history of the events leading up to the repatriation ceremony.
On July 29, a ceremony was held at Yasukuni Shrine in Japan for the bereaved family of Mr. Mutsuda. Mr. Banta, the Executive Directorof the museum, joined the ceremony in Japan, along with OBON SOCIETY.
